The Dead Lands and Animism: 13 Ancient Māori Spiritual Lessons Hidden in Plain Sight

What's the real difference between animism and shamanism? In this episode, we break down two of humanity's oldest spiritual traditions — exploring spirit worlds, nature worship, shamanic healing, indigenous belief systems, and why these ancient practices are more relevant than ever. Whether you're curious about indigenous spirituality, comparative religion, or just want to understand what a shaman actually does — this one's for you.Chapters00:00 Exploring Animism and Shamanism05:15 Understanding Animism: A Worldview of Spirits09:59 The Role of the Shaman: Navigating the Spirit World16:28 Comparing Animism and Shamanism: Key Distinctions19:30 The Suppression and Revival of Ancient Traditions22:33 Relevance of Animism and Shamanism TodayWant to go deeper? Join me here:https://www.patreon.com/cw/PanSocietyAnimismLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in helping people to find their own spiritual path and awaken their innate spiritual wisdom.For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

Explore the deeper meaning of May Day and Beltane as we uncover their historical significance and spiritual roots. This video dives into the ancient traditions behind these seasonal festivals, the loss and revival of seasonal rituals, and how we can reconnect with the land through intentional, modern practices.Learn how living animism can transform your relationship with the earth, bringing awareness, reciprocity, and sovereignty back into daily life. Discover practical ways to honor seasonal cycles, work with the energy of fire and hearth, and embody traditions that foster a deeper earth connection.Whether you're drawn to modern spirituality, ancestral traditions, or simply seeking meaningful seasonal rituals, this video offers grounded guidance for reconnecting with nature and renewing your relationship with the land.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection on May Day01:02 The Deeper Meaning of May Day and Its Rituals02:02 Acknowledging the Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Ancestors02:43 Modern Celebrations vs. Ancient Intentions03:30 The Cultural Forgetting of the True Spirit of May Day06:09 Imagining the Ancient Beltane Fire Ritual07:38 The Hearth Fire as a Symbol of Sovereignty09:10 Thresholds as Places of Choice and Protection11:11 The Body’s Response to Seasonal Shifts12:51 Participating in the Earth’s Urgency and Wildness14:20 Responding to the Earth’s Invitation with Presence15:18 Simple Practices to Connect with the Season16:52 Honoring Thresholds and Setting Intentions18:20 Naming and Protecting What Matters19:16 Creating a Sacred Center in Your Home21:04 Preparing for May Day: Going Outside and Making a Flame22:31 Recognizing the Earth’s Waiting and Your Tending23:28 Invitation to Deliberately Receive the Season’s Gift23:58 Closing and Encouragement for Personal RitualsWant to go deeper? Join me here:https://www.patreon.com/cw/PanSocietyAnimismLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in helping people to find their own spiritual path and awaken their innate spiritual wisdom.For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

What does a Māori revenge epic from 2014 have to teach us about animism? More than you'd think. In this video, we break down 13 animist lessons hidden inside The Dead Lands — from ancestor spirits and sacred land to the spirituality of combat and the power of mercy. Whether you're new to animism or deep in the practice, this film will hit differently after this.Chapters00:00 Introduction to The Deadlands and Animism02:37 The Noble Savage Stereotype05:20 The Land as a Living Being08:18 The Presence of Ancestors11:12 Spiritual Transgressions and Consequences14:13 Redemption and Ancestral Relationships16:23 The Significance of Death19:41 Mercy as a Spiritual Act21:45 Combat as Sacred Practice24:30 The Demand of Ancestors27:30 Cannibalism and Spiritual Significance30:23 The Head as a Sacred Vessel33:23 The Interconnectedness of WorldsWant to go deeper? Join me here:https://www.patreon.com/cw/PanSocietyAnimismLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in helping people to find their own spiritual path and awaken their innate spiritual wisdom.For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.#Animism #MaoriCulture #TheDeadLands #IndigenousSpirituality #AncestorWisdom #SpiritualAwakening #NatureSpirituality #MaoriMythology #AnimistLife #SacredLand #AncestorSpirits #Taniwha #MauRakau #DeadLands #NativeWisdom #Spiritworld #IndigenousKnowledge #SpiritualFilms #Shamanism #EarthBased

Fifty Miles from Tomorrow is more than William Hensley's autobiography. It's a story of how a culture traded it's ancient animist ways for modernity... and is finding its way back. This episode delves into indigenous wisdom, cultural shifts, and practical ways to foster a deeper relationship with nature. It shows how Alaska Natives are finding their way back to their roots and you can too. Chapters00:00 Introduction to William Hensley's Journey02:11 Hensley's Early Life and Cultural Context04:18 Transition to Western Education and Politics08:08 Cultural Shifts and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act10:31 The Gradual Loss of Indigenous Identity12:08 Reconnecting with Land and Ancestry14:28 Practical Steps for Reconnection~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.#indigenous #animist #animism #FiftyMilesFromTomorrow

Indigenous : what does that mean? This video is a story about a word — and what it means for all of us. Explore indigenous identity, the concept of original belonging, and what colonization quietly erased from every human line.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Modern Animism and Indigenous Roots02:50 Understanding Indigenous Identity and Connection to Land05:46 The Historical Context of Indigenous Knowledge09:07 The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Cultures11:38 The Loss of Language and Cultural Practices14:39 The Relationship with Nature and Ecological Knowledge17:31 Intergenerational Trauma and Identity20:07 Resilience of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices22:38 Reconnecting with Ancestral Roots25:42 Conclusion and Call to Action~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Laura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.#indigenous #decolonize

Discover how the Prisoner's Dilemma illustrates our disconnection in modern life and learn the principles of animism that promote cooperation and connection so you can have a more meaningful life.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

Explore the sacred element of fire through the lens of modern animism, ancient traditions, and personal practice. Learn how fire embodies power, responsibility, and continuity, and discover practical ways to connect with this elemental force.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Modern Animism and Fire00:51 The Elements as Foundations of Animism02:17 Fire in Ancient and Modern Traditions03:15 Fire in Zoroastrianism and Hinduism04:50 Fire in Greek, Roman, and Norse Mythology08:12 Fire as Grandfather and Ancestral Spirit09:07 Fire in Celtic and Norse Rituals11:23 Fire in East Asian Philosophy and Practice13:17 The Sacred Rituals of Fire and Balance15:31 Getting Started with Personal Fire Practice17:55 Fire, Charisma, and Mindfulness20:28 The Yule Log and Continuity of Fire23:07 Practical Ways to Work with Fire Daily~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

What happens when a successful professional hits a wall — and the only way out leads into the wild?In this episode, we sit down with Atulya Bingham — author, off-grid pioneer, and one of the most compelling voices in the rewilding movement — to explore what it truly means to leave behind the noise of modern life and return to a deeper relationship with the natural world.Atulya shares her extraordinary journey from burnout and disconnection to building her own home by hand in the Turkish mountains, and what that radical shift taught her about belonging, simplicity, and what it means to live with the earth rather than on top of it.Connect with Atulya K Binghamhttps://atulyakbingham.comhttps://themudhome.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragiles#Rewilding #NatureLiving #AtulyaBingham #OffGrid #BurnoutRecovery #ConsciousLiving #Sustainability #NatureHealing #SimpleLiving #MindfulLiving #EarthConnection #NaturePodcastBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

Deepak Chopra's name appearing in the Epstein files gives us the perfect excuse to check our affiliations and boundaries to make sure that we're not supporting abusive people or practices. In this episode, Laura Giles shares tips on how to know whether or not your spiritual guru is truly healthy and trustworthy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Accountability03:03 Deepak Chopra: A Controversial Figure06:01 The Allure of Charismatic Leaders09:05 Spiritual Not Religious: A Double-Edged Sword11:57 Recognizing Spiritual Abuse14:49 The Ethics of Wealth in Spirituality17:41 Red Flags in Spiritual Leadership20:31 Building a Safe Spiritual Community23:19 Critical Thinking in Spirituality26:17 Conclusion: Self-Examination and AccountabilitySubscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.

Did the monks' walk for peace inspire you to do your part to create peace in your corner of the world? Me, too! Here I share some ideas on how to make a lasting peace for all. .Chapters00:00 The Journey of the Monks and Yearning for Peace01:29 Understanding Animism: Beyond Comfort and Safety03:53 The Depth of Relationships in Animism07:43 The Role of Truth in Spirituality11:53 Local Context and Specificity in Animism15:28 Balance, Responsibility, and Community in Peace18:47 Collective Efforts Towards Lasting Peace~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Subscribe for more tips like this: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvISmeJ5AnloEqWtOCv5Ww/?sub_confirmation=1New to animism? These videos are for you! Start here.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQTjP9VALyDQc7RPYSw9A1rx5ukfI42Lb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Join our tribe! You're welcome here.https://www.myfantasia.netLaura Giles is an animist licensed clinical social worker who specializes in healing trauma. She founded Pan Society to make animism accessible to modern people. She delights in inspiring people with the love of the land, facilitating a connection to Spirit, reviving a sense of wonder and belonging through her sacred travel journeys, past life regression work, transformational workshops, and mentoring. Join her on her next adventure!For more information about Laura Giles, see her websites at https://linktr.ee/lauragilesBumper credits: Music from Pond5. Videos from Pixabay and Pexels.